Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

He paused, his voice suddenly becoming stern. "The Audit Department's investigation has proven irrefutable evidence in every case! All those implicated, regardless of official position or background, will be severely punished according to the law! The principal offender will be executed immediately, and all property confiscated! Accomplices will be exiled three thousand miles away, regardless of amnesty! Anyone who pleads for leniency or protects them will be treated as guilty!"

"As for..." His eyes seemed to accidentally sweep over the direction of the Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs, "The royal family members involved in the case...will be handed over to the Ministry of Clan Affairs and the Three Departments for trial. I...will personally supervise the case."

Although he didn't mention Prince Huaiyang by name, it was more intimidating than if he had! The entire court was trembling as if it had been soaked in ice water.

"Retreat."

Qin Ming turned away with a flick of his sleeves, leaving the entire hall filled with dead silence and fear.

At night, the candlelight within the palace cast a slender shadow on Qin Ming as he reviewed memorials, casting him against the cold palace walls like a silent guardian deity, or a blunt, heavy sword hanging over the empire. The clamor of the great victory in the north and the bloody purge of the Huaiyang Palace seemed to have left no trace on his stern face. The empire's ship had just sailed through a turbulent sea, but the helmsman knew only too well that beneath the surface lay hidden reefs.

"Your Majesty." Ying Qi's voice broke the silence. He stepped out from the shadows, holding no military bulletin but a slightly worn parchment scroll. "General Meng Zhi of Beiting has sent an urgent message from eight hundred miles away. Also attached... this."

Qin Ming didn't even look up, his red pen still scratching a sharp red line on the Ministry of Revenue's memorial regarding the trial implementation of the new grain transport regulations: "Talk."

"The old king of the Hunxie tribe... is dead." Ying Qi's voice was calm and even. "He didn't die at the hands of our army, but... died in the chaos. It's said he was trampled to death by his own troops. His eldest son, Uweton, succeeded him, but the tribe became divided, his sons fought for power, and subordinate tribes rebelled one after another, leaving it in disarray."

Qin Ming paused slightly. Old King Hunxie's death was so horrible that it saved him a lot of trouble. He said calmly, "Uveton? Is he the leader of the envoys who disappeared at the Jingji Inn?"

"That's right," Ying Qi said. "General Meng Zhi, please advise whether we should seize this opportunity to dispatch troops, sweep through the court, and completely destroy the royal court."

"No need." Qin Ming put down his red brush, his eyes finally landing on the sheepskin scroll. "This stray dog ​​is no longer a threat. It's better to divide it than to destroy it. Tell Meng Zhi to support the factions within the Hunxie tribe that are at odds with Uveton, so that they will fight among themselves and be unable to look south. Also, open a few small-scale trading posts on the border and allow them to exchange cattle, sheep, and horses for grain, salt, and iron. However, they must be strictly restricted, so that they can neither live nor die, and will forever be the dogs of our Daqian vassal state."

"Here." Ying Qi noted it down, then stepped forward and presented the parchment scroll. "This is what was found in Old King Hunxie's tent...copies of secret letters exchanged with the capital, as well as...some records of financial transactions. Upon examination, the handwriting and seals...match many of the items confiscated from the Huaiyang Palace."

Qin Ming unfolded the parchment scroll, his eyes quickly scanning the obscure tribal text and the clear Chinese annotations, as well as the shocking amounts of gold and silver and the list of military equipment. His expression remained unchanged, but the icy coldness in his eyes seemed to solidify a little.

"The chain of evidence...is complete." He closed the parchment scroll, his voice unrecognizable as emotion. "This uncle of mine is quite the businessman. He's collaborating with the enemy, providing them with weapons, and wreaking havoc on the borders...each of these crimes is enough to get him killed ten times over."

"Your Majesty, is it possible..." Ying Qi asked in a low voice.

"How is the joint trial by the Ministry of Clan Affairs and the Three Courts going?" Qin Ming asked in return.

"Prince Huaiyang... refused to plead guilty. The Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs and several old princes seemed to be... trying to protect him. They said... the evidence was captured, and it was difficult to verify its authenticity, and they feared it might be a frame-up... and... they also mentioned that the Empress Dowager was in poor health, and that it was inappropriate to establish a large-scale prison at this time, as it would affect the imperial family..."

"Frame-up? Protect?" Qin Ming's lips curled up in a cold arc. "I want to see, who is harder, their words or my sword."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the darkest night sky before dawn.

"Issue an order: Tomorrow at 9:00 PM, I will personally visit the Imperial Clan Court to observe the trial of the Prince of Huaiyang by the three courts."

"Order: Immediately transcribe copies of the evidence surrendered by the Northern Territory and distribute them to the desks of every royal prince, duke, and chief official of the Three Departments participating in the trial!"

"Another order: Tomorrow morning, take the Grand Empress Dowager to the Xiyuan Hot Spring Palace for rest and recuperation. Without my written order, no one may disturb her tranquility!"

Three decrees, each more stern and resolute than the last! Attending the trial in person was exerting pressure; distributing evidence was a showdown; and referring the Empress Dowager to him was... completely severing the other party's last shred of hope and reliance!

"I obey your order!" Ying Qi felt a chill in his heart and left after receiving the order.

Qin Ming stood with his hands behind his back until the eastern sky began to lighten. He knew that tomorrow's trial at the Imperial Clan Court would be more than just a trial of a traitorous prince. It would be a head-on clash between imperial power and the entrenched influence of the imperial clan, and those clinging to outdated notions of "familial nepotism"! It would be the hardest rock he had to face since implementing his new policies and strengthening discipline.

……

The next day, at the Clan Court.

The atmosphere within the solemn hall was oppressive and suffocating. The Chief of Imperial Clan Affairs, several elderly royal princes with white hair and beards, and the chief officers of the Three Judicial Departments sat at attention, their faces solemn. Below, Huaiyang Prince Qin Zhang, dressed in prison garb and disheveled hair, maintained a forced composure, his eyes mingling with fear and a last vestige of defiance.

When the Emperor's procession arrived without warning, the air in the hall froze instantly! All the officials hurriedly stood up from their seats and knelt to greet him.

Qin Ming, dressed in a dark casual uniform, walked in slowly. He did not take the presiding judge's seat, but instead ordered someone to set up a seat at the side of the hall. He said calmly, "I only brought my ears with me today. My lords, please continue the trial."

With just one simple sentence, the pressure in the entire hall increased tenfold! Zong Zhengqing's forehead was instantly covered with cold sweat.

The interrogation continued, but it became increasingly difficult. Whenever an official from the Three Departments presented evidence and questioned Qin Zhang, the Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs or one of the old officials would attempt to exonerate him with excuses like "the source of the evidence is questionable," "it's difficult to conclude a case based solely on captured items," or "perhaps this was a sowing of dissent by the enemy chieftain." Though their words were respectful, their defensive intent was clear.

Seeing this, Qin Zhang's arrogance seemed to rise again. He shouted loudly that he was injustice, and even hinted that this was a revenge by someone in the court to frame a relative.

Qin Ming listened silently the whole time, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest of the chair, his face calm.

Until Zong Zhengqing once again tried to delay the interrogation on the grounds that "this matter concerns the dignity of the royal family, it requires careful investigation and it is not appropriate to make hasty conclusions" -

The knocking stopped abruptly.

Qin Ming slowly raised his head, his eyes like two real ice cones, piercing Zong Zhengqing.

"Decent?"